The T20 series between Australia and England has had an ignominious end.  The second match was called off without a ball being bowled.   The series was drawn 0-0 and it’s rather hard to see who will carry the momentum into the ODI series (see article posted on 19 August 2009 – http://www.dongles.org/2009/08/the-fragility-of-momentum/).

As Cardiff got the nod for an Ashes Test this summer, one of the traditional venues had to miss out and that was Manchester.  By way of consolation, Old Trafford was awarded both T20s.  In the end, this demonstrated why it was a good decision for Manchester to have the Test taken away from it.

With play scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m, the rain came predictably in the late afternoon.  However, the rain had stopped,  the covers were off and the house was full at the scheduled start of play.  Unfortunately, one of the runs ups was a quagmire and it was decided that it was unsafe for play.

The Lancashire CEO, Jim Cumbes has been quoted at length in Cricinfo (http://www.cricinfo.com/engvaus2009/content/story/422941.html) and he was very upset.  In short, he claims that the match should have gone on – that T20 could be played when first class cricket cannot.  I find that hard to believe.  I understand Jim’s disappointment (and that the ECB will kick his butt from Lord’s to Old Trafford) but surely Lancs need to take some responsibility for installing some good drainage for the pitch square and run ups.

Cumbes seems to be implying that T20 is not serious cricket and that players would not be at risk of injury.  While it is true that many do not place the same importance on T20 as say, Test cricket, it shows a complete lack of understanding to suggest that T20 is any less intense.  In fact, I would argue that T20 is more intense.  A good article not so long ago described T20 matches as “high octane affairs”.  Bowlers are bowling flat out all of the time.  To provide quick sand in the critical area of the run up, where bowlers launch into their bowling stride, and expect them to play, is just not cricket.